HOW OUR PAGES PREVAILS '. ruler of fate series l fourth book

SIMULA

How Our Pages Prevails
written by : riyanisity

Napunta ang aking tingin sa anak ko nang marinig ang mabibilis at malalakas niyang hakbang — mistulang humahangos papunta sa'kin, "Look what I found po!" sigaw niya habang ang dalawang magkabilang kamay ay nasa likod, tila may tinatago roon.

Sia made a long jump when our distance are already close enough, perhaps few feet away, making her landed on my side directly, "Ready?" nakatingala at nakangiti niyang tanong sa'kin.

I chuckled and nodded my head, "Born ready, Bebe!" sagot ko habang patuloy pa rin ang paghihiwa ng gulay.

"One... Two..." Maingat niyang inaayos ang pagkakahawak niya ro'n para madaling itaas sa'kin, kahit halos mahagip na ng mga mata ko kung ano 'yon, "Tada!" sigaw niya sa wakas bago ipakita nang buo ang hawak niya sa pagitan namin.

My lips parted — colors leaving my face — after realizing that it was a book I had hidden under my closet long ago.

Tangina... Tangina talaga!

Naramdaman ko ang pagbalik ng sakit at pait dahil do'n; ang ala-ala naming dalawa, simula sa umpisa, hanggang sa pinakahuli, ay muling napunta sa aking isipan na parang isang buga ng apoy mula sa nakasinding mga kahoy.

I could even feel my head aching a bit too, despite the light in this kitchen blinding my eyes. And that's not enough, because it was then were the suffocating trance went wider and deeper for me to bear. My throat went itching, my hand started begging for something, and my breath were catching up on its own, like a huge piece of stone were stuck there, making my knees unsteady.

"Can you read this for me po?" Her question immediately washed the memories away. Just like that, all the swirling and clenching were replaced by the void of empty blankness.

"Sia..." I gulped and put the knife down. So, only with that, which I was able to noticed the cut on my finger. Not wanting for her to notice what happened, I gripped my fist and showed her a small smile.

Patay nanaman ako nito, ay!

I squatted in front of her, "Nasa cabinet ko ang librong 'yan..." mahinang sabi ko.

She pouted and hugged the book tightly. "Gusto ko po kasing magtago... So, I hid in your closet."

My head tilted, "Bakit mo naman gustong magtago?" malumanay at malambing kong tanong.

"I was hiding from you kaya..." She chuckled. "Pero nakapa ko po 'yan, kaya lumabas ako, and I run here to ask you."

Napahawak ako sa sintido ko, "Jusko kang bata ka..." umiiling kong sinabi.

"Read it for me!" She began jumping repeatedly, gone the glistening eyes, "Please, please, please!" puno ng tuwa niyang pakiusap.

Hindi ko maiwasan ang mapahinga nang malalim bago muling tumayo nang maayos na kaagad na nagpayakap sakanya sa mga binti ko. Maging ang paa niya ay nakapulupot na rin sa'kin sa takot na umalis ako.

Putek, oh... Anak nga kitang talagang tunay.

"Please po!" Napangiwi ako nang kagatin niya ang hita ko, "Please?" inosenteng sabi niya kahit na gano'n.

Inusog ko ang ulo niya papalayo sa pag-aakalang titigil siya, kaya sumama pa ang tela ng slacks kong suot dahil hindi pa rin binibitawan ng ngipin niya 'yon. "Teka... Sia... Sia! Sia-ndale, aray ko naman!" Ngumiwi ako nang kagatin niya ulit ako sa aking hita . "Masakit na, bebe ko."

Done and satisfied from what she did, Sia finally let go before her now puppy eyes and pouting lips greeted me back. "Please?"

Kinagat ko nang mariin ang ibaba ng labi ko at bumuntong hininga nang malakas, "Sia..." nanghihina kong tawag sakanya.